Employment

The Oakland Greens see poverty as the underlying cause of many of the crises we face in our city. Oakland residents must have opportunities for employment that provides a living wage and decent working conditions. The city government should make a concerted effort to hire from within Oakland, and should also give preference to Oakland-based businesses when awarding contracts. The minimum wage should also be raised to a living wage. This need is highlighted by the recent movement of fast food workers who are demanding higher pay. These workers, many of whom are parents, struggle to make ends meet. Though food workers are a current focus, thousands of others retail and other low-wage workers remain among the working poor in Oakland.